Sefton
Council's 100 play areas are now safe to re-open
SEFTON Council has now
re-opened safely nearly all of its 100 play areas after they
were closed as part of nationwide "lockdown" restrictions
to control the spread of COVID-19. Just 2 remain closed because
the equipment requires repair.
In line with Government guidance, the Council’s Green Sefton
team has carried out risk assessments for each site and applied
the guidance to minimise the risk of coronavirus infection. The
inspections were also used to identify any faulty or damaged
equipment, which was repaired, removed or disabled before
re-opening.
Children will have to be accompanied and supervised by parents,
guardians or carers while using play areas. Groups should not
enter play areas and each child should have only one family
member accompanying them.
People are expected to maintain a 2 metre social distance from
anyone outside their family or support bubble. And they are
being asked to restrict visits to half an hour at busy times and
not return for two hours, to allow everyone to have a turn.
Parents, guardians and carers should ensure their children’s
hands are sanitised before and after using any play apparatus.
They should also clean or sanitise seats and handles before
using the equipment.
People are asked to avoid touching their faces and to cough or
sneeze into a tissue or arm when a tissue is not available to
prevent risk of infection. Food and drink is not permitted and
visitors should take their litter home with them or place it in
a litter bin away from the play area.
New signage has been erected at all playgrounds to remind users
of the measures designed to keep everyone safe. A limited amount
of equipment such as certain swings will have to remain out of
use for the time being to enable people to maintain social
distancing.
Cllr Ian Moncur, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and
Wellbeing said:- "I am pleased that all of our 100 or so
play areas are now open again and please to hear our Green
Sefton team report that people are complying with the measures
we have put in place to help keep them safe. Coronavirus is
still with us and our ongoing priority is to protect all our
residents, which is why we have carried out this thorough
process to open our play areas safely in line with the
Government’s guidelines."
People should not use not use play areas if they or anyone they
live with has symptoms of COVID-19 or has tested positive or if
they have been advised to isolate by the NHS Test and Trace
service.
Information about Sefton's parks and green spaces can be found
at:-
Sefton.Gov.UK.
Home is
where the harm is (or could be) warns Sefton Council's Health
Chief
SEFTON Council's
Interim Director of Public Health, Margaret Jones, is reminding
people across the Borough that while they must take precautions
to avoid contracting and passing Coronavirus, they also need to
remember to take care at home. Mrs Jones said she is reassured
that Coronavirus cases in Sefton are currently low, but said
that required vigilance by everyone is needed to maintain that
situation. She said:- "With Government's recent reduction
of restrictions, there has been a lot of focus on staying safe
while out and about and there is no question that being mindful
and considerate, maintaining safe distances and wearing masks or
face covering is vitally important. But it is also vital that
people don't forget the day to day basics when they are at home.
COVID-19 is still very much with us can be anywhere including
our own homes so they need to follow the guidance on socializing
remains. People should restrict indoor meetings to members of
just 2 different households and keep the numbers at the outdoor
gathering to a maximum of 6 people. And, if people do start
showing the symptoms of Coronavirus, which are a high
temperature, new, continuous cough or a loss or change to your
sense of smell or taste, it is essential for their own safety
and the safety of their friends and loved ones around them that
they get a test immediately. It's easy to make an appointment
via:-
NHS.UK/Coronavirus or by
calling:- 119."
Mrs. Jones went on to stress the importance of people responding
if they are contacted by NHS Test and Trace service and the need
to self isolate for 14 days if they have been in close contact
with someone who has tested positive. She added:- "People
don't need to get tested unless they develop symptoms, but if
they get a negative test result after being identified through
Test and Trace, they still need to self-isolate because the
virus can take 14 days to incubate. And finally, wash your
hands, wash your hands, wash your hands, and do it thoroughly."
The Government's latest guidance is a:-
Gov.UK/Coronavirus.
'Local Enhanced
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Restrictions' imposed in Preston
PRESTON has just become
the latest place to re-impose enhanced restrictions following a
rise in Covid19 cases, with separate households banned from
meeting up indoors. Similar measures were recently reintroduced
in areas of East Lancashire, parts of West Yorkshire. and
Greater Manchester. Also, in Scotland, Aberdeen has also closed
bars and restaurants as part of its reaction to a local spike in
cases. As we react to slow down and also stop the spread of the
virus, the Government has given local Councils new powers to use
"appropriate infection controls" should they find
any potential clusters or outbreaks un their areas. Local
lockdown rules vary from place to place. For example, Blackburn
with Darwen's restrictions also means indoor gyms, swimming
pools, and other sports facilities must remain closed. New laws
have been passed to allow Police to enforce these rules, which
includes the ability to ask people to disperse and issue fines.
A full list of areas with additional Local Enhanced Coronavirus
(COVID-19) Restrictions can be found on the UK Government
website. This information
includes details, for local authorities, residents and workers,
explaining what to do and the measures that will be used to
manage the outbreak.
Total UK cases COVID-19 cases
in and around Liverpool City Region
THE total UK daily
number of lab-confirmed positive test results:-
871. The total
overall UK lab-confirmed positive test results:-
309,005. Daily
number of COVID-19 associated UK fatalities added to the total,
was sadly reported to be:-
98, with the total number of deaths of
people who have had a positive test result now standing at:-
46,511.
In England, there are a total of 266,645
confirmed cases. North West - total of 47,658 confirmed cases.
The number of COVID-19 patients currently in UK
Hospitals:-
1,101. The current number of COVID-19 patients
currently in mechanical ventilation beds in UK Hospitals:-
69.
Daily number of COVID-19 patients admitted to UK Hospitals:-
142. Due to new UK Government
system of reporting we are having to sort out a new system to
bring you the local area results, for the Liverpool City Region
and surrounding areas.
The number of laboratory
confirmed
cases within the following Local Authorities, in and around
the Liverpool City Region are as follows:-
► Liverpool,
2,621 confirmed cases.
►
Sefton, 1,585 confirmed cases.
►
Wirral, 2,080 confirmed cases.
►
St. Helens, 1,220 confirmed cases
► Knowsley,
1,033 confirmed cases.
►
Halton, 713 confirmed cases.
►
Blackpool, 1,058 confirmed cases.
►
Blackburn with Darwen, 1,511 confirmed cases.
►
Bolton, 2,062 confirmed cases.
►
Bury, 1,397 confirmed cases.
►
Cheshire West and Chester, 2,060 confirmed cases.
►
Cheshire East, 2,274 confirmed cases.
►
Lancashire, 7,374 confirmed cases.
►
Manchester, 3,460 confirmed cases.
►
Oldham, 2,302 confirmed cases.
►
Rochdale, 1,944 confirmed cases.
►
Stockport, 1,814 confirmed cases.
►
Tameside, 1,687 confirmed cases.
►
Trafford, 1,479 confirmed cases.
►
Warrington, 1,354 confirmed
cases
►
Wigan, 2,205 confirmed cases.